Sublime Meaning

/səˈblaɪm/
B2

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

verbSynonym of sublimate.

verbSynonym of sublimate., To heat (a substance) in a container so as to convert it into a gas which then condenses in solid form on cooler parts of the container; (generally) to change (a solid substance) into a gas without breaking down or passing through the liquid state by heating it gently.

It was sublime scenery.
His death was a sublime self-sacrifice.
Even in death it is sublime listening to Bach!
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The stunning view from the mountain was ____ and filled us with awe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely ____, with the clouds far below our feet today.

PIE word *upó Partly from the following: * From Middle English sublimen, sublime, sublyme (“to exalt, extol, glorify, honour; (alchemy) to refine (a substance) by vaporizing in a closed container; to obtain (a substance) by cooling vapour obtained through sublimation; to extract (a pure substance) from a mixture by sublimation; to sublimate (a substance)”), from Middle French sublimer, Old French sublimer (“to exalt, glorify, honour; to refine (a substance) by vaporizing in a closed container; of a substance: to undergo sublimation”) (modern French sublimer), and from its etymon Latin sublīmāre, the present active infinitive of sublimō (“to elevate, raise; to soar”) (compare Late Latin sublimō (“to elevate, raise; to exalt, glorify, honour; to sublimate, vaporize”)), from sublīmis (“elevated, raised; exalted, uplifted, sublime; elevated in style”) (from sub- (prefix meaning ‘under; up to’) + possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend”) (whence Latin līmen (“threshold”) and līmus (“askew; sideways”))) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs). * From sublime (adjective). Cognates * Catalan sublimar * Italian sublimare * Old Occitan sublimar * Portuguese sublimar * Spanish sublimar

"Sub[tle]. […] VVho are you? Ana[nias]. A faithfull Brother, if it pleaſe you. Sub. VVhat's that? A Lullianiſt? a Ripley? Filius artis? Can you ſublime, and dulcefie?" — 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, Act II, scene v, signature [D3], recto:
"The aſhes either of Pit-Coal, or Sea-Coal, make no Efferveſcence vvith Alkalies or Acids. VVhence the ſaline Principle is altogether volatile, and ſublimed avvay by the fire." — 1677, Nehemiah Grew, “[Several Lectures Read before the Royal Society.] Experiments in Consort of the Luctation Arising from the Affusion of Several Menstruums upon All Sorts of Bodies, Exhibited to the Royal Society, April 13. and June 1. 1676. Chapter II. What may be Observed of Minerals.”, in The Anatomy of Plants. […], [London]: […] W. Rawlins, for the author, published 1682, →OCLC, page 246:
"[I]t [niter, or sodium carbonate] Calcineth, Sublimeth and Diſſolveth Minerals and Metals." — 1670 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), “III. The Natural History of Niter, or, a Philosophical Discourse of the Nature, Generation, Place, and Artificial Extraction of Niter, with Its Vertues and Uses, by William Clarke. London, 1670. in 8°. [book review]”, in Philosophical Transactions: Giving Some Accompt of the Present Undertakings, Studies and Labours of the Ingenious in Many Considerable Parts of the World, volume V, number 61, London: […] T. N. for John Martyn […], printer to the Royal Society, →OCLC, page 2010:
"Thoſe vvords vvhich doe ſublime the quinteſſence of bliſſe, […]" — 1591, P[hilip] S[idney], “[Sonnet 77]”, in Sir P. S. His Astrophel and Stella […], London: […] [John Danter] for Thomas Newman, →OCLC, page 23:
"Miſtris Medulla, the Sunne of honour ſhine upon your hopes, till it ſublime you to a Ladiſhip: I vvill attend you preſently." — 1625 February 20 (date licensed; Gregorian calendar), I. [i.e., James] S[hirley], The Schoole of Complement. […], 2nd edition, London: […] I. H. for Francis Constable, […], published 1637, →OCLC, Act III, page 31:

Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words

CEFR Practice Quiz
The stunning view from the mountain was ____ and filled us with awe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely ____, with the clouds far below our feet today.

Expand Your Vocabulary with LexUp

Master English words using smart flashcards, play exciting word rounds, and compete with other learners worldwide.

Browse CEFR Words Alphabetically